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Ademola Lookman crowned African King

Our Reporters4 months ago4 months ago03 mins

Nigerian star Ademola Lookman has been crowned as the African Player of the Year at 2024 CAF Awards held at the Palais des Congrés in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Monday. The Atalanta of Italy forward succeeded his Nigerian compatriot Victor Osimhen. His three goals and two assists were pivotal to Nigeria reaching their eighth Africa Cup of Nations Final in Cote d’Ivoire in February, and his hat-trick in a 3-0 win handed Italian side, Atalanta FC the UEFA Europa Cup at the expense of hitherto-rampaging German side, Bayer Leverkusen in May. This season, he has notched 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for Atalanta (including a goal against record winners Real Madrid FC in the UEFA Champions League), and scored two goals as Nigeria qualified for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals, with two other goals controversially chalked off. The Winners Player of the Year (Men)Ademola Lookman (Nigeria/Atalanta Player of the Year (Women)Barbara Banda (Zambia) Coach of the Year (Men)Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire) Coach of the Year (Women)Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe) Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)Ronwen Williams (S/Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Paris FC) Interclub Player of the Year (Men)Ronwen Williams (S/Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) Interclub Player of the Year (Women)Sanaa Massoudy (Morocco/ASFAR) Club of the Year (Men)Al Ahly (Egypt) Club of the Year (Women)TP Mazembe (DR Congo) National Team of the Year (Men)Cote d’Ivoire National Team of the Year (Women)Nigeria Young Player of the Year (Men)Lamine Camara (Senegal/AS Monaco) Young Player of the Year (Women)Doha El Madani Morocco/ASFAR Referee of the Year (Men)Mutaz IbrahimElivis Guy

Lookman fires Atalanta to Serie A summit

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

Nigeria forward Lookman continued his superb form by nodding in his 10th goal of the campaign with three minutes remaining at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. The 27-year-old met Sead Kolasinac’s flick-on from a corner to give Atalanta a club-record equalling ninth straight win in Italy’s top flight and further boost hopes of a first-ever Scudetto for the traditionally small, provincial club. Alvaro Morata had looked to have earned seventh-placed Milan a point in a fiery atmosphere with his 22nd-minute leveller after former Rossoneri flop Charles De Ketelaere had crashed Atalanta ahead in the 12th minute with a thumping header. Napoli host Lazio on Sunday night and Antonio Conte’s team will have to beat the team who knocked them out of the Italian Cup if they are to reclaim their narrow league lead. Atalanta now turn their attentions to Tuesday’s visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League when they can strengthen their case for direct qualification for the last 16 and get revenge for defeat in the European Super Cup in August.

Red-hot Iwobi targets more Premier League goals

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Fulham star Alex Iwobi has expressed his willingness to score more goals for the Premier League side. The Nigerian stated this after grabbing a brace against Brighton on Thursday. “We wanted to get a win on the board after our last game against Spurs. There’s no better place to do it than at our place. I should be getting more goals but it was good to get them for the team. “We see the ability in training. This performance gives us a boost going into Arsenal, who are on a good run,”Fulham match-winner Iwobi said: The midfielder continued his red-hot form by leading Fulham to victory and up to sixth in the Premier League with two goals in a 3-1 win over Brighton. The 28-year-old was deployed deeper than usual in central midfield yet pressed high to capitalise on a Brighton mistake in the fourth minute and then curled in a late third for the hosts to make it three goals and two assists in his last four appearances. The game was in the balance until Fulham substitute Andreas Pereira had his corner deflected into the Brighton net by their own midfielder Matt O’Riley. But Iwobi made sure he would steal the show, bending a perfect effort into the bottom-right corner with three minutes left to secure the points. Fulham boss Marco Silva said: “It was a big three points for us in a tough game. We started in the best way possible with the early goal but Brighton made it really difficult for us in the first half. They started with three at the back and it made it difficult for us to connect with the wide players. “Second half we were much better. We conceded in a moment we should prepare better for the long ball. It was a good shot from the edge of the box. Difficult game but a big three points for us. “We played with Alex Iwobi in a different position. He’s an offensive player and did an amazing job.”

CAF Awards ’24: Nnadozie tops Women’s Player, G’keeper of the Year shortlists

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago06 mins

Super Falcons’ goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been nominated the CAF Women’s Player of the Year and the Goalkeeper of the Year awards. In the Women’s Player of the Year category, Nnadozie will slug it out with Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi / Olympique Lyonnais),Temwa Chawinga (Malawi / Kansas City Current), Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR) and Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride). The Nigerian also have Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo / TP Mazembe), Habiba Sabry (Egypt / FC Masar), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco / AS FAR), Andile Dlamini (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns) to battle to retain her crown in the Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) category. The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) unveiled the top five nominees in each of the women’s categories at the upcoming 2024 CAF Awards, as excitement mounts for the ceremony to be staged on 16 December, 2024 in Marrakech, Morocco. The 2024 CAF Awards cover the period from January to October this year. Five outstanding players have been shortlisted for the prestigious CAF Women’s Player of the Year, including the dynamic sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga (Malawi), Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria) and Barbra Banda (Zambia). This year’s nominees reflect the excellence in women’s football across the continent after their impressive performances at club and national team level. The CAF Goalkeeper of the Year category includes five exceptional shot-stoppers while the Interclub Player of the Year category highlights five standout performers who shone during continental competitions. Emerging talents are celebrated in the CAF Young Player of the Year category featuring top nominees, while the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year category honours the technical brilliance of five coaches. The awards also recognize the contributions of national teams and clubs. The nominees for CAF Women’s National Team of the Year are Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and the Cameroon Under-20 side, while Club of the Year contenders include TP Mazembe (DR Congo), AS FAR (Morocco), and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa). The winners of each category will be determined through votes from the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, head coaches and captains of Member Associations, as well as clubs participating in the group stages of Interclub competitions. The #CAFAwards24 continue to celebrate the outstanding achievements of African footballers, coaches and teams. Last year, Asisat Oshoala earned the title of CAF Women’s Player of the Year, and this year’s nominees will look to follow in her illustrious footsteps. Full List of Nominees (in alphabetical order by Member Association): Player of the Year (Women) Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi / Olympique Lyonnais) Temwa Chawinga (Malawi / Kansas City Current) Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR) Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC) Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride) Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo / TP Mazembe) Habiba Sabry (Egypt / FC Masar) Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco / AS FAR) Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC) Andile Dlamini (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns) Young Player of the Year (Women) Habiba Sabry (Egypt / FC Masar) Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR) Lina Mokhtar Jamai (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain) Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Nigeria / Rivers Angels) Nthabiseng Majiya (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns) Coach of the Year (Women) Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe) Ahmed Ramadan (FC Masar) Mohamed Amine Alioua (AS FAR) Chris Danjuma (Nigeria U-20) Thinasonke Mbuli (University of the Western Cape) National Team of the Year (Women) Cameroon U-20 Morocco Nigeria South Africa Zambia Club of the Year (Women) TP Mazembe (DR Congo) FC Masar (Egypt) AS FAR (Morocco) Edo Queens (Nigeria) Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Marrakech’s Palais des Congrès to host 2024 CAF Awards

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Africa will celebrate its top performers for the year when the 2024 CAF Awards are staged in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday, 16 December 2024. The prestigious event takes place at the Palais des congrès de Marrakech with the ceremony set to kick off at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT/ 20h00 Cairo time/ 21h00 East African time). The CAF Awards shine a spotlight on the continent’s most outstanding football talents, celebrating their exceptional achievements in both club and national competitions. The highlight will be the crowning of the CAF African Player of the Year in both the men’s and women’s categories, two of the most coveted individual honors in African football. The event will also feature a range of other categories, including best coach, best national team, and best club, recognising excellence across the full spectrum of African football. This year’s awards ceremony promises to be a spectacular affair, with a star-studded lineup of nominees and guests from across the continent and beyond. With Morocco’s rich footballing history and vibrant culture, Marrakech is the perfect backdrop for this prestigious celebration and a must-watch event for fans around the world. In the Men’s Player of the Year category, five names remain in the race for the celebrated individual honour. Other categories include, Interclub Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year and Club of the Year, also have five nominees each. Full List of Nominees (in alphabetic order by Member Association) Player of the Year (Men) Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire / Brighton & Hove Albion)Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund)Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns) Player of the Year (Women) Sandrine Niyonkuru (Burundi / FC Masar)Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi / Olympique Lyonnais)Temwa Chawinga (Malawi / Kansas City Current)Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria / Atletico Madrid)Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa / Monterrey)Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa / Tigres UANL)Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)Racheal Kundananji (Zambia / Bay FC)

Osimhen decides future amid Chelsea, Man U links

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago08 mins

Victor Osimhen is determined to see the season through with Galatasaray – but hopes to put himself in the shop window for Premier League clubs with his performances across the campaign. The 25-year-old Nigeria striker has hit the ground running in Turkey after completing a season-long loan move from Napoli to Galatasaray in September, scoring nine goals in his opening 11 games in all competitions. There had been intense speculation surrounding Osimhen’s future throughout much of the summer transfer window, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain all credited with an interest in the forward. Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli were also heavily linked but would go on to sign Ivan Toney instead after Napoli increased their asking price to strike an agreement for Osimhen. Just a month on from Osimhen’s arrival in Istanbul, Napoli confirmed that the attacker could leave the Serie A club on a permanent basis in January due to a break clause in his Galatasaray loan deal. But transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio claimed Osimhen has no interest in departing Galatasaray midway through the season and does not even want to speak with other teams at this stage. ‘First of all, Osimhen wants to finish the season at Galatasaray. He is very happy to be there and doesn’t want to talk about other clubs,’ Di Marzio told bettingexpert.com. The Nigeria striker has scored nine goals in 11 matches for Galatasaray (Picture: Getty)‘He wants to play and win there. ‘I will leave a small percentage for Galatasaray to try to buy him and I will discuss with Napoli to find an agreement.” ‘It would probably be less than the release clause, but Galatasaray are so happy with him that they plan to find a solution with Napoli.’ But while he remains focused on Galatasaray, it appears Osimhen wants to use the coming months to attract potential interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. ‘I know that a club in Saudi Arabia wants him. I don’t know the name of the club, but they are prepared to buy him for Napoli and get him back at the end of the season,’ Di Marzio added. ‘The problem is that they want to sign him now and Osimhen doesn’t want to sign now, he wants to wait. ‘He wants to use this season as an opportunity to let the Premier League clubs decide whether to make an offer to Napoli.’ According to Di Marzio, PSG are still in the running for Osimhen’s signature after failing with a bid for the Nigerian in the summer. ‘PSG are always an opportunity, and they’re the only club who have made an offer for him this summer,’ he continued. ‘They offered €220m for Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, so maybe they’ll try to get both again. ‘But he wants to finish the season at Galatasaray, even if the Saudi Arabian club want to sign him now.’ Osimhen, who has quickly won over Galatasaray fans with his barnstorming start in Turkish football, appeared to rule out a January exit following the side’s Europa League win over Tottenham. ‘I’m here as a Galatasaray player, I’m happy here,’ Osimhen told reporters after netting twice in a 3-2 victory last month. ‘Since I came the Galatasaray fans, the club, I saw how big a family this club is. The way they have treated me and my family in a wonderful manner. It’s important to be able to give them my all on the pitch. ‘I’ve seen a lot of the speculation linking me out of the club in January, I can state through me now I’m going to be here until the end of the season. ‘And then I don’t know what Galatasaray and Napoli are negotiating but of course, if they come to me to speak about one or two things regarding this club I would consider it, of course. ‘But now I’m here, I’m focused on this team, I’m focused on the objective the club has set and I want to give my all and make sure that we win the league and if we can go further in the Europa League we can win it also because we have a good squad. ‘So far I’m enjoying my stay in Istanbul, it’s an amazing club I’m in. I’ll be there, for me it’s important I’m enjoying my football right now, I’m doing a lot for myself and my family and, of course, for this club. I’m happy to be here.’

Nathan Tella dumped out Bayern of German Cup

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Bayern Munich were dumped out of the German Cup by holders Bayer Leverkusen as Nathan Tella’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 win for the Bundesliga champions on Tuesday, after Manuel Neuer saw the first red card of his 866-game career. The 38-year-old rushed out of the box in typical fashion 18 minutes in to the German Cup last-16 clash, taking out an advancing Jeremie Frimpong and seeing a straight red. Neuer’s sending-off brought Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz on for his Bayern debut, 18 months after joining the club. Bayern, who were already without the injured Harry Kane, dug deep despite the one-man disadvantage and dominated the ball. The visitors eventually broke through in the 69th minute, though, with Tella heading in an Alex Grimaldo cross. Tella had only been on the field for eight minutes having come on for injured striker Patrik Schick, who himself was subbed on at half-time. Home winger Michael Olise lashed inches wide in the fourth minute of stoppage time but Leverkusen held on to inflict a first domestic defeat on Vincent Kompany since he became Bayern coach. “We were too hectic and tried to go forward too quickly,” Leverkusen captain Jonathan Tah said. “At half-time, we said we need to be patient – and we did it. “The red card decided the game,” Neuer told reporters after the match. “It hurt us, and I’m sorry.” Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen, who won an unbeaten league and cup double last season, are through to the last eight. Bayern have won the German Cup a record 20 times – 14 more than the next best – but have not made it past the quarter-finals since 2020, when they defeated Leverkusen 4-2 in the final.

Chukwueze fires AC Milan to Italian Cup Quarterfinals

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago04 mins

Samuel Chukwueze scored twice as a rampant AC Milan crushed Serie B leaders Sassuolo 6-1 at the San Siro on Tuesday to reach the Italian Cup quarter-finals. Milan are now unbeaten in seven games in all competitions after an inconsistent start to life under new coach Paulo Fonseca. The seven-time European champions are hoping to win a first Italian Cup since 2003 and only their sixth in total. “It was a very good performance, the first half was magnificent and also helped me to rest some players,” Fonseca told Sport Mediaset. “I have only positive things to say, as we took it very seriously, I am very satisfied with the attitude of the players.” Chukwueze put the hosts in front in the 12th minute, bundling the ball into the net after his initial attempt had come back off the post. Milan doubled their advantage barely five minutes later, as Tijjani Reijnders slammed home a brilliant strike when a loose ball fell his way outside the box. Sassuolo were powerless to stop the waves of Milan attacks and Fonseca’s side made it three in the 21st minute. Chukwueze swept a shot into the far corner after being teed up by Tammy Abraham to complete his first brace since scoring a double for Villarreal against Real Madrid in April 2023. The procession continued just two minutes later, as Ruben Loftus-Cheek drove forward and played in Rafael Leao to drill the ball into the bottom corner. Fonseca took the opportunity to give some key players a rest, including Leao and Loftus-Cheek, by making four changes at half-time. Milan scored again in the 56th minute as Davide Calabria netted his first goal of the season. Samuele Mulattieri grabbed a consolation for Sassuolo shortly afterwards, but Abraham scored his fourth goal since joining Milan on loan from Roma with an excellent back-heel finish. Earlier, Bologna reached the last eight for a second straight season with a 4-0 thumping of Monza. The two-time winners took control of the last-16 tie with two goals in the space of three first-half minutes through Tommaso Pobega and Riccardo Orsolini. Monza, who are struggling in the relegation zone of Serie A this season, were hoping to reach the quarters for the first time in 54 years. But Benjamin Dominguez put the game beyond their reach in the 63rd minute, with fellow Argentinian Santiago Castro providing his third assist of the match. Dominguez returned the favour for Castro with 14 minutes left, as Bologna notched back-to-back wins after their 3-0 victory over bottom club Venezia in the league at the weekend.